Lacson probing admin solon, poll exec over bunkhouse anomaly

Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – An administration congressman and an  official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) are among those being investigated for possible involvement in the alleged anomalous construction of  bunkhouses for victims of  Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” rehabilitation  czar Panfilo Lacson said on Monday.

Lacson, in an interview on Radio Inquirer 990AM, said he has the identities of the two officials but he did not name them.

“May identity naman tayo noong sinasabing administration congressman na posibleng nanghimasok dito at kasama iyon sa ating iniimbestigahan. Meron din allegation na mayroong Comelec officer  na naging contractor,  kasama yun sa ating iniimbestigahan din,” he said.

Lacson said the two are being investigated for their possible involvement in the construction and for allegedly “influencing” the choice of  the contractors.

The newly appointed rehabilitation czar said he himself was “quietly” investigating  the  overpricing  and  kickback allegations in the construction of  the bunkhouses after receiving reports that the project was riddled with anomalies.

The kickbacks, he said, allegedly ranged between 30 to 35 percent.

Lacson said his office had already gathered documents pertaining to alleged overpricing and  under specifications of  bunkhouses but they have yet to compare these with the official documents from the  office of the Department of Public Works  and Highways (DPWH).

He said he had also personally asked DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson to verify the reports but until now he has not received any feedback.

“I mentioned to him several names ng mga personalities na possibly involved. Wala pa akong nakukuhang feedback from Secretary  Singson,” he said.

Lacson said Singson’s office  has yet to grant his request to provide his office the standard specifications of the temporary  shelters  being constructed in the typhoon-hit areas.

“Noong pinatawag ko ang staff ko sa kanila,  ang sagot ng staff sa DPWH, bayaran daw naming yung mga documents na hinihiling namin. Sabi ko, gobyerno tayo… bakit kelangang  bayaran namin so gumawa na lang kami ng official receipt or written request para makuha mga documents,” Lacson said.

Lacson  described the  people involved in the anomaly as “amoral.”

“There’s only  one word to describe these people. Amoral, Kasi  kung nag ti-take advantage ka  doon sa misery ng ibang tao in the middle of a tragedy, of a calamity pagkatapos pagkakaperahan mo pa there’s no better word or worse word to describe such person or persons kung hindi amoral,” he further said.

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